Rotary pendulum tension pump



- Nov 10,1970 C.IIW.QCI HESITER 3,539,278 5 ROTARY PENDULUM TENSION PUMP Filed Oct. 9; 1968 5 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- CARROLLW. CHESTER H BY M di-Q Maoreg 1r FIG-.1

I ATTORNEYS Nov. 10,1970 c. w. CHESTER 3,539,278

ROTARY PENDULUM TENSQION PUMP Filed Oct. 9, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR. CARROLL W. CH ESTER BY Melt Mame Q (flunk/Le ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1970 cQw. CHESTER 3,539,278vv ROTARY PENDULUM TENSION PUMP1 Filed Oct. 9, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 NV NTO gmbLL wc EsrE ATTOR N E Y5 Nov. 10, 1970 c. w. CHESTER 7 ROTARY PENDULUM TENSION PUMP Filed Oct. 9, 1968 7 Sheets-Shet 5 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. CARROLL W. CHESTER M1121, MoOvC 8 @MWrgM' ATTORNEYS Novw 10, 1970 c. w. CHESTER 3,539,278- 4 ROTARY PENDULUM TENSION PUMP Filed Oct. 9, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. CARROLL W. CHESTER BY Milt wxinwrgx ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1970 c. w. CHESTER 3,539,278 ROTARY PENDULUM TENSION PUMP I Filed Oct. 9, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 F i G 8 CARROLTW I -I E ETER m BY MQMX I ALL1M E ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 10, 1970 3,539,278 ROTARY PENDULUM TENSION PUMP. Carroll W. Chester, 1932 E. 76th Place, Los Angeles, Calif. 90001 Filed Oct. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 766,186 Int. Cl. F04!) 19/02 US. Cl. 417-465 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to pumps, and more particularly to a pump which converts low-powered rotary motion into the reciprocation of a piston for pumping action. In the prior art, it is Well known to pump liquid by means of a reciprocally movable piston Within a fixed cylinder. Generally, the piston is moved by a connecting rod, one end of which is pivotally fixed to a journal of a rotating crankshaft. In such a device, a relatively great amount of force must be applied to the crankshaft to turn it, because the moment arm of the crankshaft, as measured from the axis of rotation thereof to the journal, is quite short, resulting in a poor mechanical advantage. Furthermore, the connecting rod of such a device is generally under compression during the actual pumping stroke. As is well known, a metal rod of a given size, such as a connecting rod, is stronger under tension than compression, and that bending of the rod can occur under excessive compressive force. It would therefore be quite advantageous to provide a pump, the connecting rod of which is under tension during the pumping stroke. as this would take advantage of the inherent tensile strength of the connecting rod.

It is an object of this invention to provide a pump which requires relatively little force to rotate it to provide pumping action.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pump which includes a piston and connecting rod assembly, with the connecting rod thereof under tension during the actual pumping or displacement stroke.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a pump which, while fulfilling the above objects, is quite simple and effective, requiring a minimum of maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly stated, the inventive mechanism for pumping liquid comprises a base and a shaft supported by the base and fixed thereto. A pump body is supported by the shaft and is rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by the shaft. A cylinder is pivotally fixed relative to the pump body, and a piston is reciprocably disposed Within the cylinder. A connecting rod has one end fixed to the piston and the other end pivotally fixed relative to the shaft at a point spaced from the axis of rotation defined thereby, whereby rotation of the pump body about the axis of rotation defined by the shaft reciprocates the piston within the cylinder. Means are included for rotating the pump body about the axis of rotation defined by the shaft. Means are included for utilizing such reciprocal motion of the piston to pump the liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation of the inventive pump;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the pump of FIG. 1, with portions removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the operation of the piston of the pump;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of another embodiment of the pump.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The inventive pump disclosed herein is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1. As shown therein, a base 12 is set on the ground 14. The base 12 includes upright support members 16 and 18 which support a tubular shaft 20. As shown in FIG. 4, tubular shaft 20 is made up of two parts 20A, 2013 which are spaced and coaxially aligned. Part 20A of shaft 20 is prevented from rotating relative to support member 16 by means of key 22. Likewise, part 20B of shaft 20 is fixed from rotating relative to support member 18 by key 24.

Disposed about the shaft 20 is a pump body 26. The pump body 26, as also shown in FIG. 4, is disposed over and about the spacing between shaft parts 20A, 20B and is rotatably mounted about the shaft 20 by means of bearings 28, 30. Stuffing boxes 32, 34 are included to insure sealing between the pump body 26 and the shaft 20. The pump body 26 is thus rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by the shaft 20.

Fixed to the pump body 26 and extending therefrom is a counterweight housing 36 which houses counterweights 38, 40 (FIG. 2). Web plates 42, 44, 46, 48 are bolted to the pump body 26 and counterweight housing 36 and support, by means of bolts, a drive ring 50 which may, as shown, take the form of a V-belt pulley. The pump body 26, housing 36 and counterweights 38, 40, web plates 42, 44, 46, 48, and pulley 50, it will be seen, are rotatable as a unit about shaft 20.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the pump body 26 defines a chamber 52. Disposed within the chamber 52 is a cylinder 54, which is pivotally fixed relative to the pump body 26 by means best shown in FIG. 5. A pair of tubes 58, 60 are fixed to the cylinder 54 and communicate with the inside of the cylinder 54. These tubes 58, 60 extend from either side of the cylinder 54 and through the pump body 26. The tubes 58, 60 extend through housings 62, 64 fixed to the pump body 26 which contain bearings 66, 68 and stufiing boxes 70, 72, so that the tubes 58, 60 are sealed relative to the pump body 26. Cylinder 54 and its head 73 are made in two pieces for easy replacement of a worn cylinder.

A piston 74 (FIG. 3) is reciprocabl disposed within the cylinder 54, with the lower surface 74A thereof, it will be seen, communicating with the chamber 52 defined by the pump body 26. The upper surface 74B of the piston 74, through the use of tubes 58, 60, communicates only with the atmosphere outside the pump body 26. A connecting rod 76 has one end fixed to the lower surface 74A of piston 74, and the other end pivotally fixed to a pin 78 which itself is fixed (FIG. 4) to the shaft parts 20A, 20B and extends across the spacing between them. The pin 78, it will be seen, is spaced from the axis of rotation defined by the shaft 20. Thus, rotation of the pump body 26 about the shaft 20 reciprocates the piston 74 within the cylinder 54 toward and away from shaft 20.

The cylinder 54 includes guide means which cooperate with the connecting rod 76 to position the cylinder 54 relative to the connection rod 76 as the pump body 26 rotates about shaft 20. As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of bars 80, 82 are disposed within the cylinder 54, with their ends extending through apertures 84, 86, 88, 90 in the cylinder 54. The ends of the bars 80, 82 are configured to conform to the outer surface of the cylinder 54, and a retaining ring 92 is disposed about the cylinder 54 to fix these bars 80, 82 relative to the cylinder 54. The bars 80, 82 are positioned on either side of the connecting rod 76. Rollers 94, 96 are disposed on the bars 80, 82 respectively, each roller 94, 96 having an annular depression 98, 100 thereabout. The bars 80, 82 are spaced so that the connecting rod 76 is held between the rollers 94, 96 and in the annular depressions 98, 100 thereof. Cylinder guides 102, 104 (FIG. which may be of rubber or nylon, are fixed to the inside of the pump body 26. It will be seen that as pump body 26 is rotated about shaft 20 the cylinder 54 will swing back and forth like a pendulum relative to pump body 26. The bars 80, 82, with rollers 94, 96 thereon, and the guides 102, 104 act to keep the cylinder 54 in proper position relative to the connecting rod 76. Bumpers 106, 108, also of rubber or nylon, are included to prevent the cylinder 54 from hitting pump body 26. Such guide means act to keep the piston 74 and cylinder 54 in proper position relative to each other as the piston 74 reciprocates.

In the operation of the pump 10, means (not shown) as, for example, a belt drive, are included to rotate the pump body 26 about the shaft 20 through pulley 50. The liquid to be pumped is supplied to the pump through one side of the shaft and fills the chamber 52. As the pump body 26 is rotated, the piston 74 and cylinder 54 will describe the motion best shown in FIG. 7. In position A, the piston is at the top of its stroke, furthest away from shaft 20, with liquid filling the chamber 52 up to the underside 74A of piston 74. As the pump body rotates, the piston 74 moves closer and closer (B, C, D) to the shaft 20, thus reducing the total volume of the liquid-filled chamber 52 and forcing liquid from the chamber 52 through the other end of shaft 20, the direction of flow being controlled by conventional check valves 57 associated 'with the shaft 20. After the cylinder 54 has passed the position in which it is closest to shaft 20 (E of FIG. 7), liquid is drawn through the intake end of the shaft 20 and into chamber 52 by the bottom side 74A of piston 74 for the remainder of a revolution of the pulley 50 (F, G and H). By rotating the pump body about the shaft 20, a pumping action is thus set up.

Because of the size of pulley 50, the force which rotates the pump body 26 is applied thereto outwardly of chamber 52 as measured from the axis of rotation thereof. This means that, because of such a long moment arm, the force applied for rotating can be relatively small. Furthermore, because of the counter-weights used, the inertia of the pump 10 is such that, once it is rotated, it tends to keep on rotating. Thus, during operation of the pump, the maximum torque needed to operate the pump is relatively small. The upper surface 743 of the piston 74, communicating with the atmosphere through tubes 58, 60, builds up no compression within the cylinder 54, further reducing the power required to operate the pump 10.

It should be noted that, during the actual pumping stroke of the device 10, the connecting rod 76 is in tension, rather than under compression. Thus, no buckling of the rod 76 can occur, since its source of greatest strength is being used.

The pump 10 can be modified to incorporate a second cylinder assembly. Such a cylinder assembly would replace the countenweight housing 36 and counterweights 38, 40. In such an embodiment, the pins shown in FIG. 8 would be utiilzed. As shown therein, a member interconnects and is fixed to the shaft portions 20A, 20B. The member 110 includes pins 112, 114 to which connecting rods (not shown) are pivotally disposed. The pins are staggered and properly spaced to give free and proper pumping action.

The pump 10 shown has its rotating structure disposed in a vertical plane. It will be understood that the rotating structure may be disposed in a horizontal plane, with the liquid entering the central shaft either through the top or bottom. A horizontal track, on which the rotating structure is supported, may be used to bear the "weight theerof.

It 'willalso be understood that various means may be used to drive the pump 10.

The pump 10 may be used for any low-torque application. A typical use might be in pumping water out of rivers, canals, or the like and fitting it to a higher level to be used, for example, in irrigation.

It will be seen that herein is provided a pump which requires relatively little torque to rotate it, because of the momentum thereof and because of the long moment arm to which force is applied. The connecting rod of the pump is under tension during the pumping stroke of the piston, resulting in an improved utilization of the mechanical strength of the rod. Furthermore, the pump, as shown and described, is quite simple and effective, and requires a minimum of maintenance.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for pumping liquid comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a shaft supported by the base and fixed thereto;

(0) a pump body supported by the shaft and rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by the shaft;

(d) a cylinder pivotally fixed relative to the pump body;

(e) a piston reciprocably disposed within the cylinder;

(f) a connecting rod, one end of which is fixed to the piston and the other end of which is pivotally fixed relative to the shaft at a point spaced from the axis of rotation defined thereby, whereby rotation of the pump body about the axis of rotation defined by the shaft reciprocates the piston within the cylinder;

(g) means for rotating the pump body about the axis of rotation defined by the shaft; and

(h) means for utilizing such reciprocating motion of the piston to pump the liquid.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 and further including guide means associated with the cylinder and cooperating with the connecting rod to position the cylinder relative to the connecting rod.

3. A mechanism for pumping liquid comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a shaft supported by the base and fixed thereto;

(0) a pump body defining a chamber and supported by the shaft and rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by the shaft;

(d) a cylinder pivotally fixed to the pump body withing the chamber defined thereby;

(e) a piston reciprocably disposed within the cylinder, the lower surface thereof communicating with the chamber defined by the pump body;

(f) a connecting rod, one end of which is fixed to the lower surface of the piston and the other end of which is fixed to the shaft at a point spaced from the axis of rotation defined thereby, whereby rotation of the pump body about the axis of rotation defined by the shaft reciprocates the piston within the cylinder toward and away from the shaft;

(g) means for rotating the pump body about the axis of rotation defined by the shaft;

(h) means for allowing the movement of the piston away from the shaft to draw liquid into the cham ber defined by the pump body; and

(i) means for allowing the movement of the piston toward the shaft to force liquid from the chamber.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3 and further including communicating means for allowing the upper surface of the piston to communicate only with outside the chamber defined by the pump body.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the communicating means comprises a pair of tubes fixed to the cylinder and communicating 'with the inside of the cylinder above the upper surface of the piston and extending from opposite sides of the cylinder through the pump body, such tubes pivotally fixing the cylinder to the pump body.

6. A mechanism according to claim '5 and further including guide means associated with the cylinder and cooperating with the connecting rod to position the cylinder relative to the connecting rod.

7. A mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the guide means comprises a pair of bars within the cylinder and fixed relative thereto and positioned on either side of the connecting rod, and a pair of rollers, one roller on each bar, each roller having an annular depression thereabout, the bars being spaced so that the connecting rod is held between the rollers and in the annular depressions thereof.

8. A mechanism according to claim 7 wherein the means for rotating the pump body about the axis of rotation defined by the shaft applies force to the pump body outwardly of the chamber defined thereby as measured from the axis of rotation thereof.

9. A mechanism according to claim 8 and counterweight means fixed to the pump body and rotatable therewith about the axis of rotation defined by the shaft.

The mechanism of claim 3, in Which said cylinder includes a body in which siad piston slides and a head, said body being removably aflixed to said head.

11. The mechanism of claim 3, further including shockabsorbing means disposed between said pump body and said cylinder to prevent impact of said cylinder against said pump body during pivotal movement of said cylinder.

12. In a mechanism including a body, a fixed shaft defining an axis about which the body is rotatable, a cylinder pivotally fixed to the body, a piston reciprocably disposed within the cylinder, and a connecting rod, one end of which is fixed to the piston and the other end of which is pivotally fixed to the shaft, the improvement which comprises guide means associated with the cylinder and cooperating with the connecting rod to position the cylinder relative to the connecting rod, said guide means comprising a pair of bars within the cylinder and fixed relative thereto and positioned on either side of the connecting rod, and a pair of rollers, one roller on each bar, each roller having an annular depression thereabout, the bars being spaced so that the connecting rod is held between the rollers and in the annular depressions thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 895,643 8/1908 Johnston 230-174 1,370,305 3/1921 Golle 230-176 1,619,364 3/1927 Oakes 230-176 2,079,119 5/ 1937 Hillis 103-160 2,174,032 9/1939 Coleman 230-176 2,713,829 7/1955 Beacham 103-173 3,270,673 9/ 1966 Peterson 103-24 DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner W. J. GOODLIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,539,278 Dated November 10, 1970 Inventor(s) Carroll W. Chester It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Figure 1, the distance between support members 16 an 18 has been increased to accommodate tubes 58 and 60 upon rotation of pump body 26.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of August 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patent 

